AgdaPkt 2019-09-23 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

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6.C. - P of 35 8F8A"" FIRE SAFETY INSPECTION PROGRAMS ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY Issue I Summary I Background I Discussion I Findings I Recommendations Requests for Responses I Methodology I Bibliography I Responses ISSUE Have the ten fire departments and districts within San Mateo County conducted annual safety inspections of all schools, hotels, motels, apartments, and condominiums within their jurisdictions and are they ready to report to their administering authorities as required by SB 1205 (2018)? SUMMARY California state law requires that all fire departments and districts in the state ("fire departments") conduct annual safety inspections of all public and private schools, apartments, condominiums, hotels and motels within their jurisdictions (sometimes referred to in this report as "mandated annual inspections"). In June 2018, the Bay Area News Group investigated the fire safety inspection programs of major fire departments across the Bay Area, including the Redwood City Fire Department in San Mateo County. The Bay Area News Group found that fire departments, including the Redwood City Fire Department, were routinely failing to conduct these mandated annual inspections. A state law (SB 1205) which became effective in January 2019, now requires all fire departments to submit Annual Reports to their governing bodies or administering authorities (e.g., city council, fire district board, board of supervisors) regarding their compliance with the state's mandate for annual fire safety inspections. Based on the Bay Area News Group's assertion that at least one fire department within San Mateo County had failed to annually conduct inspections, the Grand Jury undertook a compliance review of all ten fire departments' within the County for the years 2015 through 2018 to determine whether their mandated annual inspections were conducted as required. For the period in question, the Grand Jury found substantial non-compliance among seven of the ten fire departments, particularly for the years prior to 2018. Although most departments appear to be making substantial efforts to correct their deficiencies, those departments must address such deficiencies promptly if they are to comply with the requirements of SB 1205. SB 1205 does not set forth the information to be contained in Annual Reports submitted by fire departments to their administering authorities. The Grand Jury concludes that administrative authorities should provide written instructions regarding the required content and due date for submission of Annual Reports in order to provide meaningful oversight of fire departments' compliance with annual inspection laws. The Grand Jury also recommends that all fire departments establish written policies specifying processes and procedures for conducting inspection programs that comply with state law and for regularly monitoring their performance 1The ten fire departments in San Mateo County are: Central County Fire Department, Coastside Fire Protection District, Colma Fire District, Menlo Park Fire Protection District, North County Fire Authority, Redwood City Fire Department, San Bruno Fire Department, San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department, South San Francisco Fire Department, and Woodside Fire Protection District. 2018-2019 San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury 104